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“Mamá, if you didn’t like the living room why didn’t you tell me? I will fix it for you.” He bent down to unlace his boots, frustration turning the bows to knots.
“It is fine, and you have enough to do. Besides, Sofia offered to do it when I get up the nerve to go see Mahalia and the baby, so you should be happy I’m actually thinking about visiting.”
Thatwasa big deal. If it took Sofia dangling a reno carrot to motivate his mom, he wouldn’t argue, but it still rubbed him the wrong way. Why hadn’t she said something to him? He would have fixed the living room if she’d asked. He pushed away his guilt and focused on his mother.
“You tell me when you want to go, and I will clear the whole weekend.” He crossed to his mother and kissed her on the forehead before heading into the kitchen. “If you want to talk about something, Sofia, can it wait until I’ve had dinner? I’m starving.”
“Actually, I just…”
Sofia gestured to the kitchen, but Graciela cut her off while she bustled to the fridge.
“Here,mijo, take this upstairs. Put it in the oven for half an hour. There’s enough for two.” She pulled a ceramic baking dish from the fridge and pushed it into his hands. “Now shoo. You two have a nice night. And thank you, Sofia. It’s been a long time since I had something to look forward to.”
“It will be my pleasure, Graciela. I’m already getting inspired.”
Good Lord. What was she going to do to the living room? Tear down a wall? Make anoutdoor living spacethat would send his mother running to her bedroom? Lay diagonal hardwood floors?
“Come on.” He jerked his head toward the stairs, in a move he knew he’d hear about from his mother later. But damn it, he was tired, hungry, and filthy, and now apparently was going to have his living room torn up because Sofia didn’t like it.What the hell?She ducked back into the kitchen, and he didn’t bother to wait, plodding up the stairs in his stocking feet.
Sofia didn’t speak until they reached his apartment. He set the casserole on the countertop and scrubbed his face and hands in the kitchen sink. It wasn’t until he dried his face on a towel that he realized she hadn’t followed him into the space. She warily held out a bottle of champagne from the top of the stairs.
“Congratulations.”
“What’s this for?”
“I came by to celebrate the Shah project. They loved it, but I can tell you’re not in the mood, so I’ll just go.”
“Stay.”
The word was out before he thought about the implications, but he wouldn’t take it back. Yes, he was in a shit mood, but he didn’t want her to go.
“Are you sure?”
“I just worked an extra four hours shoveling mulch and manure to cover for Rico so that he’s not out money because he got the flu. All I wanted was some dinner, a shower, and my bed. And I walk in to find you criticizing my home. I’m entitled to be a little cranky.”
“I wasn’t criticizing your home. I was trying to help. I came in, and your mother was reading in the dark. You can’t tell me you like that living room. I’ve seen your taste.” She gestured to his own apartment as she finally crossed the threshold.
“I ask if she wants me to fix anything up around the house. She always says it’s fine.”
Sofia looked at him, eyes full of pity for his feeble male brain, and it pissed him off. “When a woman says something is fine, it’s never fine.”
“Noted.”
“Look, I don’t want to make you mad. She just looked so sad when she talked about not seeing your sister and the baby, and then I had the thought, and then it was out of my mouth. I don’t have to do it if you don’t want me to.”
“I’m okay with whatever she wants, and if it works to get her out of the house, I will kiss you.” An awkward silence fell between them when she didn’t respond. Dammit, he hadn’t meant itthatway. Well, he would like to mean itthatway but she’d made it pretty damn clear that was off the table. This was why he shouldn’t be around people right now. Why hadn’t he sent her on her way? Maybe if she got out what she needed to say, she would leave and he could retreat with a beer to his shower. “So the Shahs liked the house?”
“Oh, I can’t wait for you to see the video.” She bustled around his kitchen, turning on the oven, grabbing two tumblers, and unwrapping the champagne as she spoke. Damn. She was planning to stay. “They loved everything. They had so many nice things to say about you and your crew. They really noticed that the details were done right. I guess they’ve lived in some places that could use your care and attention.”
She popped the cork on the champagne with a grin, and he barely noticed the wine bubbling over onto his table. His attention had gotten caught on her lips. Why did that smile make him think stupid things? Paired with the warmth of her words in his chest, she was hard to resist. She traded him a tumbler for the casserole of rice and pork, which she popped in the oven before raising her own glass in a toast.
“Here’s to the end of a job well done and the start of a new adventure.”
He clinked his glass to hers and drank deeply but wondered what she meant by that. What did she think was a new adventure? The pilot? The partnership? Them? It wasn’t just the bubbles making his head swim.
“I’m glad it went well.”
“I haven’t even told you the best part. While we were in the nursery, Farha’s labor started! They are at the hospital right now, so they will get to bring home the baby to the house we made for them. Isn’t that wonderful?” She side-hugged him in her enthusiasm, and it took every ounce of control to let her go again.
